Umbrella rib and stretcher joint.



UNiTaD STATES union.

PATENT SAMUEL J. EVANS, OF ROANOK'E, VIRGINIA.

SPECIFIGATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No, 683,686, dated October 1, 1901. l.Application led January 23, 19.01. Serial No. 44,423. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom t may concer/n.-

Be it known that I, SAMUEL J. EVANS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Roanoke, Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Umbrellas, of which the following is a specification. f

My invention relates to parasol or u mbrella frames; and the object thereof is to provide a simple and secure connection between the ends of the ribs and the notch secured to the stick and the ends of the stretchers and the runner carrying the saine.

To this end the invention includes a notch having a peculiarly-shaped socket therein and ribs and stretchers having peculiarlyshaped heads, which may be inserted in or removed from said sockets in one position of theframe parts, but which will be locked within said sockets in all other positions assumed b vthe frame, the notches for the ribs and stretchers being so arranged that when the frame parts assume the position which will permit of the detachment, as aforesaid,y

the heads on said ribs and stretchers will tend to remain within said sockets, thereby preventing their accidental displacement. a

The invention also includes the details of construction as' hereinafter described, and` particularly pointed-out in the claims. t

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-` f Figure l shows in elevation a portion of an umbrella-frame. Fig. 2 is a detail view showing parts in section. Figs. 3 and 4 show in plan view the rib` and the stretcher notch, respectively. Figs. 5 and 6 are detail views showing the structure of the ends of the ribs and stretchers. Fig. 7 shows a detail with the' parts in closed position.

In my improved umbrella-frame the ordinary number of parts are used, performing their usual functions; but these parts are modified, as will be set forth in detail hereinafter, to give the effect before described. To the umbrella-stick l a fixed notch b is secured, of an improved construction, to which the ribs 2 are pivotally attached. The ribs are controlled by stretchers 3, whose inner ends are pivotally secured to a runner .4, guided on rod l. As shown herein, this ruuner comprises a barrel 5, having secured to the upper end thereof a notch 6. Each of the notches b and 6 has a series of narrow radial slots 7 in the end and side walls thereof leading into enlarged pockets 8, having walls eX- tending toward the end of said notches and inclined inwardly toward the bore of the same.

The inner end of each rib 2 and stretcher 3 terminates in a narrow neck portion 11 and heinispherical head l2 of the same diameter as theY verticall width of said -neck portion, the base of said head'project-ing beyond the sides of the neck portion.

As will be seen, the notches b and 6 are arranged .in reversed relation to each other. While the notch 6 is vshown herein as attached to barrel 5, it will be understood that it may be made integral therewith.

The inward inclination of the walls of the sockets is such that the mouths of the pock ets 8 are partly closed, as will be set forth hereinafter, so that the area of the same which is left Aunobstructed or permanently open is less than that of the base of the head 12, but as great as the axial sectional area of the same. `By axial sectional area I mean the area of a section ofthe head taken on the line of the longitudinal axis of the rib or stretcher. This necessitates the rib or stretcher in inserting the same being held in l such a position that the base of the .heads thereof will be transverse to the end of the notch or substantially parallel with the outer wall of the pocket. Theinner sides or Walls of the mouths of thepockets in notch b are, as shown in Fig. 2, formed by the rod 1, while those in the notch 6 are formed bythe sleeve 5. In both cases the pockets are bored at an inclination tothe bore lof the notch, and the member fitted to the bore contracts or partly closes the same. I Y

When the frame is opened, the heads on the stretchers and ribs are i'n such a position thatthey may be forced out of the sockets; but as the notches are reversely arranged the tension of the parts tends to firmly hold said heads seated within said sockets. When the frame parts assume any-other than the raised position, the curved part or crown of the heads is turned toward the bottoms of the- IOO pockets and the bases of said heads transf the heads through the mouths of the pockets,

as the bases of said heads are, as before stated, of greater area than the area of said mouths.

The inner end of the rib and inner end of the stretcher are both hinged upon the stick inthe same way. The socket which receives the head, whether of the rib or stretcher, per@ mits the rib to turn from a closed to an open position. The lateral slot in which the neck moves in opening or closing is of such dimension in width as to retain the head so that the rib or stretcher cannot be detached at any other than open position; but at the end of the notch next to the stick there is an opening or mouth to the socket so proportioned to the size and shape of the head that the said head when the rib or stretcher is extended, as when the umbrella is open, may be moved through said opening or mouth by pressure on the rib or stretcher in linev approximately parallel with the stick, the stretcher being pressed toward and the rib away from the handle. Therefore the parts may be disconnected only when the umbrella is open; but in this position the parts are held securely by the tension of the parts.

I conceive my invention to include any construction of the pivotal connection between the stick and the ribs or stretchers which will permit the ribs or stretchers being detached from the stick in one position of the frame parts= this position being assumed by the frame parts in the ordinary opening of the frame, but which will lock the ribs or stretchers` against detachment in the other positions assumed by said frame parts.

I claim as my inventionl. In combination in an umbrella-frame including a stick, a notch secured thereon having a socket therein, a rib, ahead thereon having varying areas, said head being held in the socket to provide a pivotal connection between the rib and the notch, sai-d socket having a month proportioned to and in alinement with said head and of such a contouras will permit theinsertion and removal of the rib-head during tension of the frame when open but prevent either in any other position of said frame, substantially as described.

2. An umbrella-frame comprising a stick, a notch secured thereto, and ribs'removably connected to said notch, said ribs having each a hemispherical head,'the planeof said head being at a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the rib, said notch having a series of sockets, each socket terminating in a mouth correspondingin dimensions and alinement with said rib-heads and being of such a contour as will permit the insertion and removal of the rib-head during the tension of the frame when open but prevent either in any other position of said frame as set forth.

Y In combination in an umbrella, a stick, a notch mounted thereon having a socket therein with a permanently open mouth and a frame member having'a head, the area of the base ofsaid head being greater than the axial sectional area of the same, said mouth being of less area than that of the base of the head, but as great as the axial sectional area of the same, substantially as described.

4. In combination in an umbrella-frame, a notchhaving a central bore, a socket in said notch with its wall inclining inwardly toward the bore of the notch and opening into said bore and the' end of the notch, a member fitted to said bore partly filling said socket, whereby the mouth of the same is contracted, and a frame mem-ber having a head coacting with said socket, said head being larger in one plane than in another, whereby it will pass through the contracted mouth in one position of the frame parts and be prevented from passing in other positions thereof, sub stanti-ally as described.

5. An umbrella-frame comprisinga stick, a notch fixed thereto, ribs, means for pivotally connecting the notch and ribs, stretch ers, a runner, a notch secu-red to the same, means corresponding to the iirst-named means for pivotally connecting the runner-notch and stretchers, said means permitting the detachment of the connected parts when the frame is under tension by moving the ribs j andr stretchers toward each other and locking said connected parts against detachment in all other positionsof the frame par-ts.

6. In combination in an n m'brella-frame, a stick, a frame member, means for pivotally connecting the member to the sti-ek, said means permitting the mem-ber to be detached from the stick when the frameparts reach a predetermined position which.v is assumed by said'parts in the ordinary operation of the frame, said means locking the member against y detachment in other positions assumed bythe frame parts. s

' 7. In combination in an umbrella-frame, a stick, a rib, a ystationary notch secured to the stick, and means for pivotally connecting the rib to the notch, said means permitting the detachment of the rib from the notch in onev position assumed bythe frame in the ordinary opening-v and closing movement thereof and preventing said detachment in all other positions assumed by said frame parts, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

S. J. EVANS. lVitnesses':

F. L. MIDDLETON, EDWL L. REED.

TIO

IIS 

